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Growing an Indoor Herb Garden
by Kate Gilby
If you live in the northern hemisphere, then it is likely that your
garden is tucked up for the winter. However, this doesn't mean you can't
enjoy freshly picked herbs. Many varieties will grow quite happily
indoors on a sunny window ledge or porch. In addition to providing a
source of fresh herbs, an indoor garden can look extremely attractive,
and they are a wonderful introduction to gardening for children.
Herbs which will grow indoors:
Basil
Oregano
Mint
Parsley
Rosemary
Sage
Thyme
Angelica
Chamomile
Dill
Fennel
Lavender
Geranium
Chives
You will need to find a sunny, well lit spot to grow your indoor herb
garden
Ideally, it should be south facing, but if this isn't possible choose a
situation that will receive plenty of light through out the day. Try to
avoid a north facing place because it is unlikely the plants will
receive enough light to grow properly.
What you will need:
Herbs, either plants or seeds
Good quality compost
Suitable containers
Buy your herbs from reputable suppliers, don't buy seed packets which
are out of date, and avoid any straggly or unhealthy looking plants. The
same is true for compost, choose a good all purpose compost, your herbs
will be relying on it for nutrition for some time.
The containers are easier to select. You will find a wide range at
garden centers and nurseries. Alternatively, you can use ones you
already have, or adapt other objects. I grow my geraniums in a old mop
bucket, and my lemon mint is growing in a teapot with a broken handle.
If your children are helping with your indoor garden, a nice idea is to
take some plain plant pots, and let the kids decorate them with paint,
paper etc. to produce their own unique pots.
Once you have planted your garden, it will need some care. Remember,
indoor plants rely on you totally. Water regularly, but be careful not
to over-water, this is the main cause of death for most indoor plants.
No more than once a week should be sufficient, I water once every two
weeks. Check the compost before watering, if it still feels moist wait
and check again the next day. If you have used a good compost, and your
winter is relatively short you will probably only need to feed your
plants once. If you have a longer cold season, it might be an idea to
use the slow release pellets you can buy in garden centers.
About the author
Kate Gilby lives in the UK, and is the editor of kate blogs:
http://kategilby.co.uk
a blog devoted to writing, web and graphic design. She is also the owner
of the home business portal, kate-blogs biz:
http://kate-blogs.kategilby.co.uk, in addition to the home and
garden sites More Than Mint:
http://more-than-mint.kategilby.co.uk and Decorating Divas:
http://decorating-divas.kategilby.co.uk. In her spare time is
devoted to knitting fog and performing random acts of silliness.
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